bushido_man96

Sparring is not necessarily the end all, be all of judgements. Just because someone cannot spar well, does not mean that they cannot defend themselves. There are some things that sparring won't show you, because of the rules involved. Point sparring may not demonstrate toughness, or the ability to take a shot. Even if it is not point sparring, you still may not get a good idea of what the person is capable of when his or her life is on the line, and all they are concerned with is survival.

I have heard that sometimes whether or not you can do the splits has to do with genetics. Not for sure, though. I heard that Van Damme had some part of his leg muscles or tendons removed so that he could do his splits. I have not been able to do it in 13 years. Been close, but usually when the adrenaline is running at tourneys.

The Shamelessly Unofficial Taekwondo Hyungs page has a lot to offer. Try it out. Type that in; it should be easy to find.

You make a good point. However, a boxer has fewer skills to master, and then these are repeated over and over again. Even the most basic martial arts style has many more forms and techniques to perform. Few people that I've met can fight after two years of traditional martial arts training as well as a boxer after the same period. The reason is the volume of training material. It just takes longer to really master and understand the principles for most people. IMHO, of course. With respect, Sohan I kind of agree with you, Sohan, but kind of don't. In a way I do because it is a lot of material to absorb, with the forms and all. But a Thai Boxer focuses on punching and kicking and movement, more than a boxer, and still can be prepared to fight in 2 years. It seems that perhaps our traditional styles (which teach self-defense, right?) get in their own way of becoming more efficient in the fight game. Now, I know that we aren't training people to fight so much as training them to defend themselves, but in the end the result is the same....you win or you lose.

I didn't think about the grappling aspect in my original post. It changes things a bit.....I don't how comfortable I would feel. I would like to think I could deal with it, but I don't know, honestly. With TKD its different. There is no grappling. I guess you don't spend as much time in their "personal space" as grapplers do.

At my school, there is a little bit of an age gap. I am 28, and there are some 20-23 age range from our college class students. Then we have a few older adults. Some are in their 40s. I think that the age gaps happen in smaller demographic areas, where population is smaller. Where you see less of an age gap is in children's program classes (which we also have, and the gap is less noticable), and in programs like the AAU promoted programs where there are age groups that train together in a team atmosphere.

This is not a bad idea at all. However, I would not yet overlook the value of peers and seniors. Having an experienced master or instructor to work with is always a valuable resource. At the same time, its the masters and instructors who can become a roadblock to this kind of evolution. Sometimes these seniors can be stubborn to their way of doing things. Tell me some of your theories and philosophies. I am sure we would all like to hear them.

Patusai, you're speaking of people who have had previous martial or fighting experience, which is the exception, not the norm. I'm referring to someone who receives a BB in 2 yrs or less from ground 0, which is more likely the majority of the quick-rise BBs. Regardless, there's no way most people could master 30, 20, or even 10 kata in 18 months with BB-worthy form unless their name is Bruce Lee. The Okinawans say it takes 1000 reps to be ready to master a kata, so just 10 kata would require 10,000 reps. At ten reps per day, that's a minimum of just less than three years. And that's ten reps every single day, plus all the other techniques one is required to know, for only ten kata. Heck, we have more than 30 in our system. That's a lot of reps. I'm proud to say it takes my school 5+ years to reach blackbelt. Respectfully, Sohan You are talking about developing muscle memory here, which is something that can be developed over any extended period of time with any activity. I am not so sure it necessary to ingrain everything like that. Free thinking is important, too. Ater so many reps, everything starts to seem monotonous. I am not saying that developing muscle memory is bad, but is it required?

I don't have any chi power, and have been in for 13 years.

I don't see anything wrong with 2 year black belts. If the person can demonstrate knowledge of the forms, one-steps, self-defense techniques, and other requirements of the system, then why not? Lets play devil's advocate. Let's say that you enter into a non-ranking fighting system, like boxing. Now, if you practice for two years, should you be able to go fight? Because if you do, then you are going to gain some recognition; moreso if you win. Then people will begin to recognize you as having some skill and ability. Is this any different than what a black belt in 2 years gains? Let me know what youall think.

Congrats....power poster....master of the forum.....guru of the phonetic dojo.... Seriously. You info is always positive and informative, that I have seen. Good stuff.

Interesting question...never considered it before. I would hope that if they did, they would just not tell me. "Don't ask, don't tell." Really, though, it should not matter, as long as people mind their own business.

You could take hapkido, or jujitsu of some sort. Also, could try boxing....great hands AND great feet!!

This is a very good point that you make. Black belts need more in order to keep them interested. Our traditional classes are always the same thing, and even our kicking classes are open to all students, and it is always everyone working on the same thing. They are still good workouts, but I need a little more.

I agree; I feel that I get more power out of the moves in the Chun do kwan style than I did the ATA forms. However, I felt that some of the ATA forms flowed a little better from move to move. I also like how they advance with the kicks in the ATA forms. I know that they may not all be practical, but it is nice to get to do something besides side kick or a front kick.

Yes I know. I'd still like to see someone try and kick me off a horse, though, of any height. I'm not the greatest rider in the world, but I bet that it would be nigh-on impossible for anyone to unseat me with a flying kick. With today's saddles, sure. However, most of the modern saddles and the stirrups were not around at that time. Plus, add on the fact that you are wearing a lot of armor which was very very top heavy, and it might not be that hard. Now, just from jumping next to the horse, probably not. Coming off of a height, very possible. Aodhan Wow, my thread on forms systems turned into an eqestrian arguement

Yes I know. I'd still like to see someone try and kick me off a horse, though, of any height. I'm not the greatest rider in the world, but I bet that it would be nigh-on impossible for anyone to unseat me with a flying kick. With today's saddles, sure. However, most of the modern saddles and the stirrups were not around at that time. Plus, add on the fact that you are wearing a lot of armor which was very very top heavy, and it might not be that hard. Now, just from jumping next to the horse, probably not. Coming off of a height, very possible. Aodhan Actually, I think the Mongols invented stirrups.

If Koreo is one of your forms, it sounds like you are using some of the WTF system of forms.

Teens and young adults aren't "too old to listen" - you just have to know how to make them listen. Yes, they are rebellious by nature, but they can be kept in check. Here's something that's out of the typical TMA school style of thought, but beat them. seriously. There are few things more humbling than getting your butt kicked repeatedly by various people. Why? because you find out that regardless of how many people you beat, there are still those out there who can school you. Train them - but try to get them into competition. For those who aren't interested, then when they get to the sparring stages, make sure they have access to people they cannot beat. This is a very old school response. I, personally, like it. There are some students who need to be taken down a notch or two. You don't see as much of that as you used to, in traditional schools. Humbling someone now and again is necessary.

Good luck. There are things out there, but they are all style based...AAU for TKD, NASKA, and the like. Too many politics to make it happen. It is a very nice thought, though. Maybe you should try to set it up, and then talk to various oganizations to get them involved. It always starts with an idea.

Talk to the instructor. Tell him you want the pad drills back. Communicate with him, and tell him your needs.

Work with as many advanced students that are in your studio as you can. When you spar, work on scenarios with certain attacks, and prepare counters, and do drills like that. Practice, practice, practice.

The 3 section staff would be cool to see.

Go now. The sooner you get the feel for what a tournament is like, the better off you will be. Even if you don't do outstanding, you will get the feel of what it is like to get nervous, and deal with the "stress" of a tournament. That way, by the time you are higher rank, you can worry about your ring strategies, and not about what the tournament will be like.